The aim of this study was to assess effects of a short-term resistance program on strength in fit young women using weight machines/free weights or elastic tubing. 42 physically fit women (21.79±0.7 years) were randomly assigned to the following groups: (i) the Thera-Band (®) Exercise Station Group (TBG); (ii) the weight machines/free weights group (MFWG); or (iii) the control group (CG). Each experimental group performed the same periodised training program that lasted for 8 weeks, with 2-4 sessions per week and 3-4 sets of 8-15 submaximal reps. A load cell (Isocontrol; ATEmicro, Madrid, Spain) was used to test the evolution of the Maximum Isometric Voluntary Contraction (MIVC) in 3 different exercises: Vertical Rowing (VR), Squat (S) and Back Extension (BE). A mixed model MANOVA [group (CG, TBG, MFWG) x testing time (pre-test, post-test)] was applied to determine the effect of the different resistance training devices on strength. The only groups to improve their MIVC (p<0.005) were TBG and MFWG, respectively: VR 19.87% and 19.76%; S 14.07 and 28.88; BE 14.41% and 14.00%. These results indicate that resistance training using elastic tubing or weight machines/free weights have equivalent improvements in isometric force in short-term programs applied in fit young women.
Aquatic jump exercises result in greater force production and rate of force development in the same amount of time with less impact and can thus offer a viable alternative to traditional dry-land jump exercises, which may also be beneficial for rehabilitating or aging populations. The benefits of this type of exercise include an exercise mode that can be performed without compromising speed while reducing the potential for joint injury.
One year of progressive resistance training with elastic bands has beneficial effects on anti-inflammatory and anthropometric cardiovascular risk factors in menopausal women, including changes in lipid profile.
Martín-San Agustín, R, Medina-Mirapeix, F, Alakhdar, Y, and Benítez-Martínez, JC. Sex differences in the velocity of muscle contraction of the hamstring and quadriceps among recreationally active young adults. J Strength Cond Res 33(5): 1252–1257, 2019—This study determines sex differences in the velocity of contraction (VC) of 5 isolated muscles (biceps femoris, semitendinosus, rectus femoris, vastus medialis, and vastus lateralis) and in the relationships between them. Thirty-six female and 34 male recreationally active young adults participated in the study. The VC was measured by tensiomyography using normalized response velocity (Vrn) to perform comparisons. Sex comparisons were adjusted by height and mass. The study of relationships was carried out by comparing and calculating means and ratios. Sex differences were observed in the VC of rectus femoris (mean difference = 6.20 mm·s−1; p < 0.001). Conversely, the biceps femoris only showed sex differences in the unadjusted analysis (mean difference = 6.66 mm·s−1; p = 0.002; d = 0.73. Both sexes showed lower VC values of the hamstring with respect to the quadriceps. Female participants showed differences greater than 15% relative to male participants between biceps femoris and quadriceps ratios and in ratios in the hamstring. Thus, our findings in the VC ratios indicate different mechanical contractile properties between sexes in the relations between the hamstring and quadriceps. Our analysis of the VC at these muscles supposes a new possibility to establish the relationships between knee agonists and antagonists, which allow monitoring the changes in the balance of the VC among the muscle groups.
Blood fl ow restriction training (BFRT) has been shown to be an eff ective alternative technique to conventional resistance training to increase skeletal muscle hypertrophy and strength. However, neuromuscular response to BFRT in combination with nutritional supplementation has rarely been studied. Th e purpose of this study was to investigate the eff ects of BFRT combined with creatine monohydrate (CrM) and/or hydroxymethyl butyrate (HMB) on skeletal muscle size and strength. Fift een healthy males were randomly divided into three groups: a) BFRT without supplementation (C-BFR); b) BFRT with CrM supplementation (0.3 g / kg -1 ) (CrM-BFR); and c) BFRT with CrM (0.3 g / kg -1 ) and HMB (3 g) supplementation (CrM + HMB-BFR). Participants performed elbow fl exion exercise (30% of maximal isometric voluntary contraction (MIVC)) at 30% of total occlusion pressure, twice a week, for three weeks. MIVC of the elbow fl exion and brachial biceps muscle thickness were assessed pre-and post-training. Th ere was no signifi cant group-by-time interaction for MIVC values (p>0.05). Biceps muscle thickness was signifi cantly increased from pre-to post-test in all groups (p<0.05). Th e C-BFR group obtained a greater value of eff ect size (d=2.2). Th ese fi ndings suggest that 3 weeks of CrM and HMB supplementation had no infl uence on BFRT-induced neuromuscular adaptations. KEY WORDS Skeletal muscle hypertrophy, muscle strength, occlusion training.
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